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Credo Theory of Music training programme

GRADE 2
By S. J. Cloete
N.R.2
Copyright reserved © 1993 3L.2

INDEX PAGE

1. Note values and rests ...................................................................... 27

2. Dots and double dots....................................................................... 28
3. Ties ................................................................................................ 29
4. How to write notes and rests correctly .......................................... 31
5. How to lengthen a note value ......................................................... 38
5.1 Dots ................................................................................. 38
5.2 Ties .................................................................................. 38
5.3 Pause (fermata) ............................................................... 38
6. How to shorten a note value ........................................................... 38
6.1 Mezzo staccato .................................................................. 38
6.2 Staccato ............................................................................ 38
6.3 Staccatissimo ................................................................... 39
7. Other signs ...................................................................................... 39
7.1 Slur ................................................................................... 39
7.2 Accent .............................................................................. 40
7.3 Ornaments ........................................................................ 40
7.4 Tenuto .............................................................................. 40
8. Triplets ............................................................................................ 42

After you have completed this module, you will be able to write and
identify:

 The breve (double whole), semibreve (whole), minim (half),

crotchet (quarter), quaver (eighth), semiquaver (sixteenth),
demisemiquaver (thirty second), and hemidemisemiquaver (sixty
fourth) notes and their corresponding rests.
 Triplets.

You will also be able to lengthen a note by using a dot, tie, or pause, and
to shorten a note by using a staccato, mezzo staccato, or staccatissimo.
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1. NOTE VALUES AND RESTS (TIME NAMES).

Turn to the summary and learn the table of note values and rests. Then
proceed with this module.
Note: Written music has curved flags ( ),
but you may use straight flags: .

A breve is twice as long as a semibreve.

A semibreve is twice as long as a minim.
A minim is twice as long as a crotchet.
A crotchet is twice as long as a quaver.
A quaver is twice as long as a semiquaver.
A semiquaver is twice as long as a demisemiquaver.
A demisemiquaver is twice as long as a hemidemisemiquaver.

etc.
The longest note, the breve, was used in vocal music (singing) of the 16 th and
17th centuries, but is unusual in later music.

Ex. 27/1
WRITE NINE DEMISEMIQUAVERS ON EACH STAVE:

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2. DOTS AND DOUBLE DOTS:

 Dotted note :
The dot takes half the value of the note that precedes it:
The dotted minim, crotchet, quaver and semiquaver are
required. EXAMPLES:

 Double dotted note:

The second dot takes half the value of the first dot:

 Dotted notes / rests, can be halved or doubled.

 Dots are not used to extend notes / rests beyond

bar lines.

 Dotted rests:

Rests may be written in full (i), or a dotted rest may be used (ii). Both
are correct, except for the semibreve rest, which is never dotted (iii)
and (iv).

EXAMPLES:

(i)  (ii) (iii)  (iv) 

 Double dotted rests may be found in music literature, but it is not

commonly in use.

Ex. 28/1
FILL IN THE REQUIRED NOTE VALUE UNDER EACH*:

1 2
* *

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3. TIES.

The tie is written over two notes of the same pitch. It means that the first
note is lengthened for the duration of the second note as well. The tie turns
the two notes into one sound.

A tie is not a slur (see page 39, 7.1).

REMEMBER!

 Avoid ties where possible. There must be a reason for using a tie. The
reason at example (i) is that the first note lasts 11/4 beats and one
cannot use a dotted note. The reason at example (ii) is that the note is
extended beyond a bar line. The reason at example (iii) is that the
tie follows the normal grouping of the notes.
 Any number of notes may be tied (iv).
 Rests cannot be tied.
 Ties are written on the side of the note head, on the outside and not on
the inside (v).
 Avoid using a tie within the bar, if you can simply use a longer note
(vi).
 If you are tying a dotted note, begin the tie just after the dot.

EXAMPLES:

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 A tie must be used between beats if one or both of the notes to be tied is
a semiquaver (vii).
 With intervals, notes are tied in opposite directions (viii).
 With triads, the outside notes are tied in opposite directions.
The position of the middle note with regard to the centre line,
determines the positioning of the middle tie (ix) and (x).

Ex. 30/1
WRITE TWO TIED NOTES, EQUAL IN TIME VALUE TO THE GIVEN
NOTE, AT THE :
1 * 2 * 3 *

Ex. 30/2
WRITE THREE TIED NOTES, EQUAL IN TIME VALUE TO THE GIVEN
NOTE, AT THE :
1 * 2 * 3 *

Ex. 30/3
USE TIES TO IMPROVE THE GROUPING OF THE FOLLOWING.
WRITE ON THE LOWER STAVE:
1 2 3

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Ex. 31/1
TIE THE FOLLOWING TRIADS CORRECTLY:

4. HOW TO WRITE NOTES AND RESTS CORRECTLY.

In grade 1 you learnt how to write notes and rests.

4.1 NOTES:
REMEMBER:

 Stem up - to the right

 Stem down - to the left
 Single note on the middle line - stem up or down.
Single note above the middle line - stem down.
Single note below the middle line - stem up.
 Note flags are always written to the right of the stem.

 Notes may be beamed together: ♫

. The beam follows the direction of
the notes. Draw the beam of notes, which are on the same pitch, at a
slight angle to prevent it disappearing into the lines of the stave. The
tilt should not exceed one staff space.
 Space notes correctly, e.g. a crotchet will need more or less twice the
space of a quaver. The music has to look as it will sound.
 When notes are beamed together, all the stems of one beat will either
go up or down. However, what would we do in the following case?

The note the furthest from the middle line indicates the stem
direction, in this case the first note:

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 When writing a dotted note with a smaller note, observe carefully that
the flag of the smaller note does not reach the stem of the dotted note.

 Dotted notes and double dotted notes:

If the dotted note is in a space, the dot is in the same space.
If the dotted note is on a line:
- Single dotted note: the dot goes in the space above (i)
- If the note following the dot is higher, place the dot in the
space above (ii).
- If the note following the dot is lower, place the dot in the space
below (iii).

(i) ( ii ) ( iii )

Ex. 32/1
FILL IN A DOT OR DOTS UNDER EACH ASTERISK (*) TO
FORM THE CORRECT NOTE VALUES:
1 2 3

4.2 RESTS.
REMEMBER:

 Rests are normally written in the third space. The quaver rest and the
semiquaver rest hook on the fourth line, but the demisemiquaver (and
smaller) rests hook on the fifth line. Every loop is in its own space:

EXAMPLE:

 How to draw a crotchet rest: Draw a sideways z and join a sloping c

below: + =

 Dots are normally positioned in the third space:

EXAMPLE:

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Ex. 33/1
WRITE TEN BREVE RESTS ON THE FOLLOWING STAVE:

Ex. 33/2
WRITE TEN DEMISEMIQUAVER RESTS ON THEFOLLOWING STAVE:

Ex. 33/3
WRITE THE CORRESPONDING REST FOR EACH OF THE
FOLLOWING NOTES UNDER THE*:
1 * 2 * 3 *

4 * 5 * 6 *

Ex. 33/4
WRITE THE REQUIRED NOTES OR RESTS:

1 2 3 4

Crotchet, C above Semiquaver rest Breve, F sharp Crotchet rest

the stave on a line

5 6 7 8

Demisemiquaver, Minim, middle C Quaver rest Breve rest

B above the stave

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9 10 11 12

Semiquaver, B flat Semibreve rest Demisemiquaver rest Minim rest

below the stave
Ex. 34/1
WRITE A NOTE DOUBLE THE VALUE UNDER THE :
1 * 2 * 3 * 4 *

Ex. 34/2
WRITE A REST HALF THE VALUE UNDER THE :
1 * 2 * 3 * 4 *

Ex. 34/3
WRITE THE CORRECT NUMBER IN THE SPACE PROVIDED:
EXAMPLE: equals 4 crotchets

1 equals____ crotchets.
2 equals____ semiquavers.
3 equals____ demisemiquavers.
4 equals____ quavers.

5 equals____ demisemiquavers.
Ex. 34/4
WRITE ONE NOTE, OR DOTTED NOTE, OR DOUBLE DOTTED NOTE,
FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:
1 2 3 4

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5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20

Ex. 35/1
WRITE A NOTE OR NOTES TO THE VALUE OF THE DOT(S) ALONE
UNDER EACH :
1 2 3 4
* * * *

Ex. 35/2
HOW MANY CROTCHETS ARE THERE IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING
NOTE GROUPS?
1 2

_______ _______

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Ex. 36/1
HOW MANY SEMIQUAVERS ARE THERE IN EACH OF THE
FOLLOWING NOTE GROUPS?
1 2

_______ _______

Ex. 36/2
WRITE ONE REST OR DOTTED REST THAT EQUALS THE VALUE OF
EACH OF THE FOLLOWING NOTE GROUPS:
1 2

3 4

Ex. 36/3
ADD THREE RESTS TO EACH BAR SO THAT THE VALUE OF THE BAR
IS EQUAL TO THE GIVEN NOTE ABOVE THE BAR:

1 2 3

Ex. 36/4
WRITE THE FOLLOWING RESTS:

1 Two rests equal to

2 Three rests equal to

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3 Four rests equal to

4 Five rests equal to

Ex. 37/1
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING NOTES IN HALF THE VALUE,
BEGINNING AS SHOWN:

Ex. 37/2
WRITE A DOTTED REST THAT EQUALS EACH OF THE FOLLOWING
NOTE VALUES:
1 2 3 4

Three Six demi- Three Six

crotchets semiquavers minims semiquavers

Ex. 37/3
WRITE ONE REST OR DOTTED REST OR DOUBLE DOTTED REST,
EQUAL IN VALUE TO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS AT THE :

1 2 3

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5. HOW TO LENGTHEN A NOTE VALUE:

5.1 DOTS.
A note or rest can be lengthened by writing a dot after it (dotted note /
rest), or by writing two dots after it (double dotted note / rest).

5.2 TIES.
A note can be lengthened by using a tie (tied note), e.g. to extend a note
beyond a bar line. Rests cannot be tied.

5.3 PAUSE (fermate). or

A pause above or below a note means that the player has to hold the
note longer.
If a note or rest is marked "lunga pausa" it means that it has to be a long
pause. The pause sign may also be used above or below a rest.
Formerly the term fermata was used, which is the synonym. Fermate is the
most preferable synonym.

6. HOW TO SHORTEN A NOTE VALUE:

6.1 MEZZO STACCATO (half staccato).

Mezzo staccato is moderately detached, but not as short as staccato.

more than one note one note

mezzo staccato mezzo staccato
(the dot is inside the slur)

6.2 STACCATO.
A staccato is short, detached, separated, but not as short as possible. How
much a note is to be shortened, will depend upon its value and upon the
tempo. E.g. a staccato minim will be longer than a staccato crotchet. A
staccato note at a slow speed might be played longer than the same note at a
quicker speed, etc.
Staccato dots are placed at the note head in the middle of the adjacent
full space, irrespective of whether the note is on a line or in a space
e.g. (i):
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When the staccato is used with a slur, the staccato dot is placed within
the slur e.g. (ii):
(i) (ii)

Do not confuse a staccato and a dotted note. The staccato dot is written
above or below the note. Although it is played shorter, its time value remains
the same in music theory. The dot of the dotted note is written after the note
and it does have time value.

6.3 STACCATISSIMO.

A staccatissimo is very short, as short as possible, super staccato.

Ex. 39/1
WRITE ONE DOTTED (OR DOUBLE DOTTED) NOTE, OR TWO TIED
NOTES, EQUAL TO THE VALUE OF NOTES INDICATED:

EXAMPLE: 5 quavers (eighths) =

1 6 crotchets (quarters) = ______

2 10 quavers (eighths) = ______
3 3 semiquavers (sixteenths) = ______
4 7 minims (half notes) = ______
5 9 semiquavers (sixteenths) ` = ______
6 7 demisemiquavers(thirty seconds) = ______

7. OTHER SIGNS.
7.1 SLUR (phrase mark).

The slur is written over or under two or more notes of different pitches. It
means that the notes within the slur must be played smoothly and connected
(legato). At the end of the slur, it has to be phrased off by lifting the hand if
playing the piano.
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EXAMPLE:

7.2 ACCENT.
An accent is written above or below a note and indicates that the note must be
musically emphasized or strengthened. or is stronger than >, and <
is never used. It is normally placed outside the stave at the side of the note
head.

7.3 ORNAMENTS.

There are various ornaments such as the mordent , a turn ,

acciaccatura , trill etc. You will learn more about these later.

7.4 TENUTO.
A tenuto line (tenuto mark) above or below a note head, indicates that the
player has to hold the note for its full value (the opposite of staccato). It may
even indicate a slight pressure or emphasis. As the staccato, the line is also
placed in the adjacent full space.

Ornaments, accent signs, phrase marks and tenuto signs are of great
relevance in the practical performance of music.

Ex. 40/1
WRITE THE FOLLOWING NOTES:
1 2 3 4 5 6

F sharp, Dotted Double dotted E flat, F sharp, One octave

a space, crotchet quaver, a space, a line, above middle
double dotted rest middle C accented a quaver, C, thirty
minim quarter note staccatissimo second note,
staccato

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Ex. 41/1
WRITE THE LETTER NAME AND NOTE VALUE (TIME NAME) OF
EACH OF THE FOLLOWING NOTES:

Ex. 41/2
DIVIDE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING NOTES / RESTS INTO TWO
EQUAL PARTS:

Ex. 41/3
DIVIDE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING DOTTED NOTES INTO THREE
EQUAL PARTS:

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Ex. 42/1
GIVE THE LETTER NAME AND NOTE VALUE OF EACH OF THE
CIRCLED NOTES:

1 2 3

Letter name Note value

1 ________ ______________
2 ________ ______________
3 ________ ______________

8. TRIPLETS.

A single note can be divided into three equal parts, called a triplet. In the
following example the last crotchet is divided into three equal parts:

EXAMPLE:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

There is only time for two (quavers) but three are played in the time of two.
A triplet is a group of three equal notes performed in the time normally taken
by two notes of the same kind.

EXAMPLES:

REMEMBER!
Triplet 3 = 2

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A slur or bracket with the number 3 may be written above or below a triplet.
The triplet can also be without a slur or bracket. The number 3 is written
either above or below the middle of the group.
The following are also triplet groups:

Ex. 43/1
WRITE ONE NOTE, OR DOTTED NOTE, OR DOUBLE DOTTED NOTE
FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:
Remember: A triplet counts for only two of the same value.

You have now completed the module on note values and rests. Learn the summary
of this module. Cut it out and place it in your "Summary File" for safekeeping.
When you are ready, ask your teacher for the module test on note values and rests.

After that, you will be answering a past grade 1 exam paper for revision purposes.

Well
done!

* * *
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 2

 SUMMARY

Credo Theory of Music training programme

GRADE 2
By S. J. Cloete N.R.2
Copyright reserved © 1993

TABLE – NOTE VALUES AND RESTS:

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 2(2)
SUBDIVISION OF NOTES:

etc.
DOTTED AND DOUBLE DOTTED NOTES/RESTS:

 Dotted note/rests: the dot takes half the value of the note.
 Double dotted note/rest: the second dot takes half the value of the first dot.
 Dots are not used to extend notes/rests beyond a bar line.
 Rests may be written in full, or dotted/double dotted rests may be used, except
for the semibreve rest, which is never dotted.

TIES:

 Use a tie:
- if a note lasts e.g. 1¼ beats (i).
- to extend a note beyond a bar line (ii).
- between beat groupings (iii).
- between beats if one of the notes is a semiquaver (vii).
EXAMPLES:

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 2(3)
 Rests cannot be tied.

 Any number of notes may be tied:

 How to write ties:

 Avoid ties where possible:

 Intervals: tie in opposite directions.

 Triads: Tie outside notes in opposite directions and the middle note with
regards to the centre line (ix) and (x).

HOW TO WRITE NOTES / RESTS CORRECTLY (see page 31).

HOW TO LENGTHEN A NOTE:

1 Dotted / double dotted note or rest.

2 A tie.
3 A pause (fermata).

HOW TO SHORTEN A NOTE FOR PERFORMERS:

1 Mezzo staccato:

2 Staccato:

3 Staccatissimo:
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 2(4)
SLURS:

A slur is written over two or more notes of different pitches. The notes under the
slur are played smoothly and connected (legato) and must be phrased.

ACCENTS:
= strong accent
> = weaker accent
< = never used

ORNAMENTS:

E.g. the mordent , turn , acciaccatura , trill , etc.

They are of great relevance in the practical performance of music.

TRIPLETS:

- Three notes played in the time of two of the same value. COUNT TWO.
- A slur or bracket with the number 3 can be written above or below a triplet,
or it can be without a slur or bracket.

* * *

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